By:
Kieran James
Date:
12 January 2015 @ Australind, Bunbury, Australia
Kieran James (BUSUK
CHRONICLE): Tell me more about your plans for XENOPHOBIC WORLDWIDE given that
the environment in the metal scene is changing all the time?
Jason H: The metal
industry is different now - not like back in the day. Now we can’t tell the
difference between Commercial and Underground. In Indonesia the marketing of
the music is different to western marketing. I called BURGERKILL “sell-out”
when they had a picture of THE HAUNTED holding up their BURGERKILL CD.
BURGERKILL is bigger than that. That is not the BURGERKILL I supported. We
don’t ask people to take sides. People are free to think what they want to
think. I’m in the right position to say. If I think I’m wrong I will
apologize. In life I will fight for what
I believe in. I will stand up for it. As IMMORTAL TECHNIQUE [rap band] said, if
you will die for a cause then make sure it is what you believe in.
KJ: What do you think
about BURGERKILL now?
Jason: I don’t give a
f*** what they do but I’m really happy with what they are doing. It’s like a
marriage – when it’s over it’s over. They do their own things and I do what I
want to do. I think we both got something out of it; I won’t lie about it.
KJ: Do you hope they do
anything to resolve the problems?
Jason: I don’t really
care but I hope they keep their word to the metal people and the metal
industry. I’m not happy with the whole thing about how they support the cigarette
industry. I know everyone tries to make money but don’t sell-out too much. They
are a good band; they have done well for themselves. It’s not a personal issue.
I still like them and love their music but it’s just not the same love anymore.
I only love a few bands to death such as PANTERA, MACHINE HEAD, and BURGERKILL.
When I got really close to them it was different. But, looking at them from
outside, I get my appreciation for them again. I would love to see them at Hammersonic from the side of the stage
[as a member of the audience].
KJ: What is your
comment about the band WARKVLT [Bandung BM] whose album you will release on
XENOPHOBIC RECORDS?
 |
| Jason and Dada Deathstar in Bali, 2015 |
KJ: They say that about
the Bandung scene in Surabaya too.
Jason: Well there you go.
JASAD had a good sound; BURGERKILL had a good sound. BURGERKILL did very well
with that formula. The name change from IMPISH to WARKVLT makes sense. IMPISH
is more like high-school kids. When people abuse you but you still act nice
about it. That is the meaning of IMPISH to me. WARKVLT says you can’t bully us
anymore; we will fight you back. In Indo metal scene IMPISH was bullied too
much. We stand for the quality. WARKVLT is f***ing good.
KJ: What is your
comment about JIHAD [Cimahi]? As you told me XENOPHOBIC will release a new
collectors’ edition of JIHAD Origin of
the Rebels Angels this year.
Jason: I always love
JIHAD. I love the sound they do. I know Kancil. I love the band. It’s like with
DEVO [DEATH VOMIT]. I love the people. With some people you meet them once or
twice and you feel you know them forever. I respect this band JIHAD so much.
I’m going to issue this album Origin of
the Rebels Angels. This is how I felt when I first heard Between Coma and Despair by BURGERKILL.
I didn’t have a label then. I just tried to market the band. They thought Indo
bands won’t make it. It hurts me how PRIME CUT bring Indo bands to Australia. I
call our company XENOPHOBIC. PRIME CUT used to look down upon Indo people. I
used to mention JASAD, BURGERKILL, SIKSA KUBUR, and DEVO to them back in the
day. Now people claim something to do with that scene. I’m not whinging [complaining]
about it. Before they were laughing about Indo scene and now they want to
promote it.
KJ: What about the
Australian tour of REZUME?
Jason: What I’m saying
is these people from the beginning they did not believe us. These companies
brought bands in on holiday visas. They brought them in without the paperwork.
Anyone can do that.
KJ: What are some new
bands you are interested in?
Jason: PARGOCHY
[Medan], they are good and HELLSKUAD [Jakarta]. I think PARGOCHY’s battle is
not over but they are very big, you know. I used to like CLIMAXETH [Surabaya] –
Niza’s band. I don’t know what happened to that girl now. She was the best
female vocalist in Indo. I miss that lady. The original person of her was
amazing. She was an amazing f***ing growler.
KJ: Have you got any
tour plans confirmed for any Indonesian band?
Jason: No, I plan to
release a couple of albums first. I will reissue JIHAD – Origin of the Rebels Angels and the new PARGOCHY album. We are
thinking of mastering and mixing it in Australia or outside Indo. We want a
different approach to the sound. I have a few names in my mind as producer.
They will finish at the beginning of the year, this month I hope [January
2015]. I can’t wait to hear the new album. I have a hunch about it. It will
really be out there. Only a few bands can capture the imagination. I hope I’m
not wrong this time. I think they are a good band. Another band which captures
my attention is XTAB [Cimahi]. I think XTAB stands for playing within your own.
They know who are going to be their customers. They are young and energetic; I
want to see them going up.
KJ: You are promoting
two bands from Cimahi then – JIHAD and XTAB. They will be very happy out there
in Cimahi.
Jason: Yes, I always
like the Bandung bands. I can’t deny it. Bandung has the talent. If bands from
other areas come up they must compete with the giant names and they must be
good.
KJ: What do you think
about Indonesian HC?
 |
| Jason & Kieran James, 12/1/2015 |
KJ: Have you got more
comments about the Bandung UG scene?
Jason: They are good
and professional; they have been doing it for a long time. They have the
advantage of location near Jakarta and the cool weather. They have the passion;
they are the Paris Van Java.
KJ: Do you think too
many Bandung bands play the same style of brutal death-metal?
Jason: It’s not much of
a problem; the more the merrier. The good thing about metal is everyone is a
player. You have got to think of it in a good way. Everyone is a fan.
KJ: Have you talked to
DEVO about the plan for another Australia tour by them?
Jason: We talked about
it; we miss them. We want to see them come to Australia. I’m just so busy now.
It’s a one-man operation. I can’t dump them to other people. It takes time and
energy to get their visas arranged. I need to find the right moment to organize
the tour. I got so many invitations from people in Australia asking me whether
DEVO will be coming back.
KJ: What do you think
of the new DEVO album?
Jason: I got the new
album. It is f***ing amazing. I’m happy with the whole lot. There is not much
change in the style; they have cemented their own sound. Their sound says who
they are. Sofyan and Oki put their own signature upon it. You can’t just say it
is just Death Metal; it is the DEATH VOMIT sound.
KJ: I know you are releasing
the new album by PARGOCHY from Medan. Do you think it’s a problem that people
in Java don’t want to listen to Sumatra bands?
Jason: Yes, that’s the
mentality. If a band from Sumatra wants to stand out they have to be very good.
If they do the hard work they can achieve something. If they can succeed it
will be a bonus that they are not from Java. Medan is famous for their DM as
Man JASAD has said.
KJ: Do you prefer any
genre over others?
Jason: I don’t care
much although I do like BDM better than other stuff. Music is universal. As
long as it is good for the audience’s ear that is the main thing. Beauty is in
the eye of the beholder. I’m not stuck to the attitude that it must be slam or
BDM only. Just call it metal or brutal metal. As long as people still play
guitar music it will still be the same.
KJ: Do you hope to see
JASAD tour Australia?
Jason: I would love to
see JASAD in Australia. I reckon that would be the ultimate. I grew up watching
them and hearing the name. I would love to see JASAD’s name in Australia.
KJ: I have seen most of
the other Bandung bands live onstage but not JASAD…
Jason: You have got to
see Man one time on the stage. He makes the whole experience. JASAD is
captivating. Man and Ferly are just amazing. The bass [Yuli] is pretty f***ing
good. I never paid much attention to the drummer.
KJ: The old JASAD
drummer Papap has formed the new band DISMEMBERMENT TORTURE.
Jason: Yes, you said.
KJ: How about JAGAL
[Surabaya]?
Jason: They are a
little bit old, those boys. You hear much more about the name JASAD. Man did so
much for f***ing Indo metal. He is the hero. I respect that guy for who he is.
It’s a pity what happened with Papap. It’s like SLAYER without Dave Lombardo –
the feeling is not the same. FORGOTTEN is quite good; DISINFECTED is good;
Amenk is smart.
KJ: Amenk has a great
stage show.
Jason: There is a lot
going on there at the moment. REVENGE from Jakarta is doing well.
KJ: Do you think you
can make a profit from XENOPHOBIC?
Jason: I made a little
bit of profit but not much. It’s never been about the money; it’s about the
passion. I’m patriotic to my people. I like being the underdog. I don’t care
about other people’s success.
KJ: What do you think
of people mixing religion with metal?
Jason: With music in
general you don’t want to hear about religion. We both believe what we believe.
I grew up as a Muslim but I saw a lot of shit. I’m not going to say what
religion I am. Religion is like sex. It’s a private thing. I don’t want someone
singing about their dick size. We don’t care what people do with their lives.
Belief is a different subject from music. Metal is about hell-raising. Don’t
change it to become religion mumbo-jumbo. If you want religion to make you
happy in your own life that is alright but don’t preach it to me.
KJ: What do you think
about the band SAFFAR [Bandung]?
Jason: No, they are too
religious.
KJ: Aren’t JIHAD a
religious band then?
Jason No, they are not.
KJ: Why do you like to
listen to hip-hop?
Jason: Back in the day
I loved the rebellion in the metal. I’m not into that gangsta-rap we see in the
Top 40 such as EMINEM. IMMORTAL TECHNIQUE, ILL-BILL, and VINNIE PAZ, those
bands from the UG, plus NECRO – it is polluted from the DM stuff back in the
day. He did a song with John Tardy [OBITUARY vocalist]. I love metal. I listen
to it now for its intensity and beauty. If I want to
listen to lyrics about real-life experiences you can’t beat the UG hip-hop
lyrics. I’m only talking about three or four performers. I got inspiration from
them. They sing about a lot of taboo subjects which metal has forgotten about.
I’m not interested in the racist hip-hop about gun and whore but the political
bands.
KJ: Do you want to
organize tours for hip-hop bands?
Jason: No, I don’t
think so. My heart is still metal to be honest. I might have said it jokingly
back in the day but that was not my intention. I listen to all music but I
still always go back to metal. That is what I call home.
KJ: Your love for
hip-hop now brings out the xenophobia in some people.
[Jason laughs.]
KJ: Is Lauren going to
be involved with XENOPHOBIC in the future?
Jason: I am not sure;
maybe in the future.
KJ: What do you think
of me starting Black Hammer Webzine?
Jason: You should go
back to Busuk and stay strong about it. It’s your intellectual property. You
have the right to say whatever you want. That is why we are here, doing this
independent stuff.
*****THE END
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